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Sunday, August 31, 2014

Using Seat Sacks Efficiently and a HUGE Seat Sack Giveaway!

This new school year brings with it lots of exciting changes in the way I teach. The use of interactive notebooks has really been a plus and I couldn't be more pleased with how engaged my students are when we all work together to learn a new skill or revisit one already taught. They are not distracted, disinterested, or asking me how long until it's lunchtime! LOL! You can read my 9 helpful hints to successful interactive notebooking here.

At first, I was a little nervous as to where I was going to keep my student's notebooks. I don't have any built in shelving units in my classroom and it is a challenge to find room for all their textbooks, workbooks, notebooks, etc.

When the school year began, I was keeping the children's notebooks in this mailbox unit. The children used the unlabeled slot next to their name. It was working out well, except for one thing. There was a lot of time wasted while I called each table to get up, walk to the mailbox, get their notebook, and sit back down. I had to do this for all four tables. And then, we had to repeat it when it was time to put our notebooks away.

I spent a lot of time thinking about what I could do differently. How could I store my students' notebooks so that we didn't waste quality learning time retrieving them and putting them away? Over and over again!

They have many different colors to choose from. I chose red, yellow, green, and purple, because those are the colors of my tables. See how pretty they look? Everything matches!

My students use their seat sack from the minute they enter our classroom in the morning, right up until they pack up to go home. When they first arrive, they put their take home folder in their seat sack. I used to collect them every morning and then hand them out in the afternoon. I had to find space to hold them all day and then waste time handing them out. Not any more!

My students keep their interactive notebook and their reading workbook in their seat sack, as well. They are incredibly durable and roomy. More books can easily fit inside, but that is all we have in there for now. Take home folder, marble notebook, and reading workbook.

Each seat sack comes with a blank label to write the children's names, which is inserted in a clear vinyl pocket. I decided to make my own name labels on my computer and the children colored them in. When they switch seats during the school year, they will just remove their name and put it in their new seat sack.

When it's time to work in our interactive notebook or reading workbook, all my students have to do is reach behind and grab their book. No more sitting quietly, waiting for each table to go to their mailbox to get their book. And then wait again while the books are put away.

At the end of the day, I no longer have to pass out take home folders. My students quickly and easily grab their folders from their seat sacks to color in their behavior calendar. Then, they empty their mailbox and pack up. This is all done in 5 minutes.

I kid you not when I tell you that these seat sacks have really helped to eliminate wasted time. My day runs very efficiently. And, as an added bonus, my classroom looks bright and beautiful. The seat sack colors are gorgeous!

If you would like to try seat sacks, I highly recommend these from The Original Seat Sack Company. They have many different colors and sizes to choose from. If you order the Seat Sack Classroom Pack, it also comes with a few other goodies, like a Read-n-Go Book Bag and a Hand-e-Sack Stick and Store!

I made seat sacks last year and LOVED them!!! Unfortunately, I washed and dryed them over the summer and apparently left crayons in them and it ruined them (to me...everyone said the kids wouldn't notice, but I did!!). Our home was flooded in April and the sewing machine was among the ruins, so I haven't had a chance to make new ones. These would be awesome for ANY classroom!! love the way you made your own signs and color coded them for smooth classroom management. Thank you!!!

I have beem trying to find affordable seat sacks for my classroom, but I have not had much luck. My students need seat sacks to organize their supplies and books at their tables. These would be very beneficial for our classroom.

I bought a similar set many years ago and they have been wonderful. At the time our class size limit was 18. It is now 27 so a new set would be much appreciated! Thank you for offering this opportunity!

I would love to win these! I have just changed districts and grade levels. I have decided to start over fresh new theme in my room. I had forgotten how expensive that is to do, but it was definitely worth it! My kindergarteners love our room :). These seat sacks would be a great addition to finish the look.Thank you so much,Halli

I would love to win these! I have just changed districts and grade levels. I have decided to start over fresh new theme in my room. I had forgotten how expensive that is to do, but it was definitely worth it! My kindergarteners love our room :). These seat sacks would be a great addition to finish the look.Thank you so much,Halli

I am teaching my first year in kindergarten, and these would be absolutely perfect! To quote you, "an answer to my prayers!" They look so durable and I love, love, LOVE the way you can do table colors! What a tremendous deal!

I just bought your kinder interactive phonics journal and love those! The seat sacks make a lot of sense. My kinders also spend time getting and putting away their journals/workbooks, etc. in their work box cubbies. A seat sack would save precious time. Thank you for sharing this resource!

I would love to win these for my kiddos. We have such limited space for storage in the classroom. I am starting interactive notebooks in Math and Reading this year and right now I am wracking my brain as to where to store them so that they are easily accessible.

I would love to have these for the exact same reasons you explained. I took out my student cubbies, and I'm having trouble passing out folders at the end of the day. I will also be starting Interactive Notebooks, and I was trying to figure out a good place to keep them. Thanks for the great tips!

I've been trying to get these for years but I work at a high poverty school so there is never any money in the budget for such "luxury items" . I have the same exact tables but teach kindergarten and in the beginning of the year its very difficult for them to follow instructions. I have to always direct them to go inside their book bags at their cubbies to get their needed school supplies throughout the day. This takes away from instructional time and causes too much unneeded transition time. I had a friend donate 5 of her chair sacks last year and I used them for my guided reading table AND I LOVE THEM. We can easily grab our books, white boards, markers, etc... from them. I know it would make life in the classroom easy for my students if we could have a whole classroom set. I don't have a desk myself and I'm thinking one of these behind my teachers chair would work wonders too. Fingers crossed for the win.

I attempted to make some chair pockets for my students this year, but realized it would take way too much time and cloth. So, I asked all of my students to bring in pillow cases to make no-sew chair pockets. Unfortunately, this isn't working as well as I'd like. I would really love to have a set of REAL seat sacks!

What a wonderful and useful giveaway! I love Seat Sacks but never have enough in my budget to purchase them. I can only dream. I think they would turn my room into an organized and clutter free space for us all. keeping my fingers crossed:)

These look wonderful! We have the desks that lift up to open...leading to LOTS of items spilled off onto the floor. I'm into anything that makes my students have to open their desks LESS! I would love there for their interactive notebooks, journals, and folders.

I have used seat sacks for years and couldn't do without them!!!!! They teach the kids to be organized and take care of their own things. Never thought of using them with color coding of the tables (so easy and effective). Would love a new set as mine are worn and loved.

I currently have my Kinder's mailing their papers to their cubbies 2-3 times a day. Oh, but now, now after reading your blog post I'm kicking myself because I thrive on organization and quicker transitions and feel like you've hit the nail on the head. If only seat sacks for a class of 25 weren't so darn expensive. Hoping this is the one contest I win! FINGERS CROSSED!

These seat sacks are fantastic! As a teacher just going back into the field, after being at home with my kids for 7 years, I would love to use these in my classroom! Thanks for this awesome opportunity!!!

Seat sacks impress me for there ease of use and durability. I see great promise in how they support executive functioning skills for students with the different colors available. Thanks for sharing pictures of your use of seat sacks. Thanks to you and the company for offering us a chance to win a set!

Thanks for the opportunity to enter your give-away. The Seat Sacks look great and they would be a wonderful help in my classroom. I can see how they would save time-I have the same problem of calling groups to get supplies. Thanks again.